HERE IS WHAT OTHER METS FANS HAVE TO SAY:

Scott
Remember the corny picture in the early 70s Mets yearbook of Don "catching" a ball against the outfield wall?

David F
For me, the first thing that comes to mind about Don Hahn is him hitting an inside-the-park home run at Veterans Stadium while a member of the Mets-- it was the first time anyone had done that at the Vet.

Lisa
How could anyone not mention that unbelievable collision with George Theodore? I was about 10 at the time and saw it on TV, I remember it like yesterday. The Stork got the worst of it, but Hahn was pretty shook up too. He was a great centerfielder and a Met I remember with fondness.

EG
March 17, 2001
Pretty good centerfielder. Would have caught the balls that Mays didn't get to in the 73 World Series.

Eric Kaplan
April 29, 2001
I always hated Hahn because he was the guy the Mets traded Ron Swoboda for. Swoboda will always be remembered as a Met hero, long after people will forget that Don Hahn ever existed........

Barry Wenig
July 13, 2001
Always wondered how he feels about the Disney director/producer with the same name. In any case, Don was the first Met I remember to wear number 25, and for my money, every Met to wear number 25 since (be it Willie Montanez or Danny Heep or....) has been great!

Dave Olson
June 20, 2002
I grew up playing ball (baseball, basketball and football) with Don when we all lived in the westside of the Santa Clara Valley. The Hahn family had four sons, three of which (as I understand it) ended up playing major league baseball (well, at least professional baseball). When Don attended Campbell High school he was pretty much a local "hood," but when it came time to put it on the field Don could always be counted on. Don graduated from Campbell High in 1966 (and along with Campbell High's Craig Morton of the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos) attained status as a professional athlete. I have often what Don has done with himself after "the pros" were done with him.

Rich Weksberg
June 26, 2002
After Swoboda was traded for Don, I became a big Don Hahn fan. I remember him as an above average centerfielder who got the big triple in the World Series against the A's when they went up 3 games to 2. I still have an autographed Don Hahn photo which ranks fourth on my sports autograph list after Mantle, Namath and Chamberlain!

Metsmind
December 24, 2002
Funny that Hahn and Montanez wore 25 as Mets, because Willie Montanez is the guy who missed Hahn's popup in Philly, resulting in an inside the park HR. The Astroturf was very new in Philadelphia, and the players hadn't learned to play the high hops yet. (May have been 1971.) Montanez was only a part time outfielder and he got too close to the ball, letting it bounce over his head.

Mr. Sparkle
January 3, 2003
Talk about your light hitting outfielders. Don was pretty lame with the bat. He was a good fielder but couldn't hit. Too bad he didn't play shortstop.

I was at the game when he collided with the Stork. I remember him getting up after the collision, picking up the ball and then throwing it with his left hand. It went about 10 feet. At least that's how I remember it. It was a nasty collsion and he was luckier than Theodore on that one. Gotta give him credit for attempting to throw the ball in. I didn't dislike Hahn but he wasn't what you want in centerfield.

Etch 35
April 5, 2003
Don Hahn is mentioned in a lyric of a rap song by the Ultramagnetic M.C.'s called "Two Brothers With Checks (San Francisco Harvey)". The rapper (Kool Keith) boasts in the song that he's "swingin like Don Hahn".

He also mentions Jerry Grote in the same song "step to plate, Yo Jerry Grote, Pause"

I know no one cares, but thats what I think of when I hear his name. Great memory, huh.

Skip
July 2, 2003
I grew up loving the Mets in the early 70's. Just thought I'd take a trip down memory lane and see if any lasting mention existed of certain games I saw when I was a kid. Thank you, Lisa. I thought I was the only one in the world who remembered The Stork (George Theodore) and Don Hahn colliding in the outfield. It was on T.V. and, I swear...I remember it like it happened an hour ago. For you trivia fans...it was Ralph Garr of the Atlanta Braves who hit the ball, and he ended up with an inside-the-park homer on the play. Memories.....

Joe Figliola
July 3, 2003
It's interesting that some of you referred to Don Hahn as a strong defensive player. I don't recall it. I thought he was average in center field. He didn't embarrass himself, but he wasn't Mookie Wilson or Tommie Agee. And I do have to say it was rather eventful when he turned on the power at the plate.

Although I did not see the collision on TV (I also was 10 at the time), I did see the photos of it and thought it was horrific. I'm surprised both he and Stork Theodore LIVED. Actually, I never even saw it on film of any kind. I think that, at age 40, I'm strong enough to see it now (that is, if I can find it).

Bob P
July 6, 2003
Joe, good point. I'm a "few" years older than you (I was 19 in 1973) and I recall always hearing from the Mets' broadcasters at the time that Hahn was an outstanding defensive outfielder. I just looked up his stats and over the course of his career he was slightly below average in range factor, but the two years he was a semi-regular on the Mets ('73 and '74) his range factor was about 5-8% better than the league average.

So, mixed numbers, and we fail to reach a consensus! What likely happened is that the Mets tried to sell him as a great defensive outfielder because he was such a poor hitter. His batting average was .236 vs. a league average of .261; his OBP was 12 points below the average, and his slugging percentage was a paltry .303 vs. the league average of .384.

frank simmons
July 30, 2003
The first game that I ever saw in person was Mets- Reds at Shea Stadium in June, 1974 when I was 9 years old. Don Hahn hit a two-run homer and the Mets won 4-1. I remember jumping up and down on my seat like the Mets had just won the World Series. So even though he doesn't rank up there in Mets history, that will always be something I'll remember.

Nishna
October 3, 2003
One of the few games I went to as a kid, I saw Hahn go 4-for-4! How many people can say that? (Well, I mean besides the other 20,000 or so who were there that day.) That was a month's worth of hits for Hahn!

Bob P
October 10, 2003
Nishna, That game took place on Monday night, August 27, 1973 at Shea. Actually, there were 14,789 other fans there plus you!

Hahn was batting seventh in the lineup that night. He had singles in the second, fourth, fifth, and seventh innings. The hit in the fourth inning drove in a run. Hahn finished the season with 60 hits.

Ralph Garr
May 16, 2004
There was this girl we knew, that was such a big Don Hahn fan, that we all started to call her Hahn. Recently, I saw that her father had passed away, and in the death notice she was listed as 'Hahn'. That's a loyal fan.

Pete
November 22, 2004
Maybe the worst picture ever taken for a baseball card. I think it was his '75 card, Don looks like he's about to sneeze.

DT
October 28, 2005
My biggest memory is of what a great player Don was. My most accurate memory, however, is a quote that appeared in the NY Times during the 1973 NL playoffs. Reggie Jackson was asked who he (the A's) would rather face in the World Series. His response was the Reds with Bench, Rose et al. "...they have thunder. Who do the Mets have for thunder? Don Hahn?" Classic. Thanks for the memory Hondo.

DT
December 2, 2005
My favorite Don Hahn memory was a quote in the NY Times during the 73 playoffs. Reggie Jackson on the A's expressed his preference to play the Reds in the World Series. His reasoning? The Reds have thunder... "Who do the Mets have for thunder? Don Hahn?" Classic. Thanks for the memories Don. You made this little boy think and dream big.

Jonathan Stern
February 24, 2006
One of the greatest things about the Fall Classic is how larger-than-life any player can look by performing significantly in one. I remember, years ago, seeing the offical MLB film of the 1973 Series and thinking Hahn was some kind of star... then looking him up in the Baseball Encyclopedia and being shocked by how meager his overall career was.

Don Engbers
June 25, 2008
I knew Don when we were both in the Giants organization. He was only 18 when I first meet him and I was very impressed with his defensive skills and I remember him being a really nice young man.